A 33-year-old Nigerian man, Babatunde Francis Ayeni, has been sentenced to a decade in a U.S. federal prison for his role in a $20 million cyber fraud scheme that targeted over 400 individuals across the United States.
According to a statement from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Ayeni was part of a sophisticated business email compromise (BEC) operation that exploited vulnerabilities in real estate transactions.
The scheme involved phishing emails embedded with malicious links or attachments sent to title companies, real estate agents, and attorneys.
When victims clicked the links, they were prompted to enter their email login credentials, granting the conspirators access to sensitive information.
Court documents revealed that Ayeni was based in the United Kingdom at the time of his arrest and pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud in April 2024.
The investigation further disclosed that the conspiracy was executed by individuals operating from Nigeria and the United Arab Emirates.
Ayeni’s sentencing underscores the U.S. government’s commitment to combatting cybercrime and holding perpetrators accountable, particularly in cases involving international fraud networks.